Sept. 11 Widows Who Since Gave Birth

Dec. 20, 2001 -- For these women, the pain of losing their husbands on Sept. 11 was followed by the joy of giving birth.

"More than anything, when I was pregnant, I was looking forward to watching my husband be a dad," said Jenna Jacobs, whose husband Ari was killed at the World Trade Center. Their son Gabriel was born just six days later. "I just want that one picture of him sleeping on his dad's chest."

Primetime brought together 16 new mothers whose babies were born after they lost their husbands in the World Trade Center attack.

LaChanze Gooding, who lost her husband Calvin, a stock trader on the 104th floor of Tower One, gave birth to a healthy baby girl on Oct. 23.

"I still have a hard time believing that it's happened," said Gooding, who hasn't had the heart to move Calvin's things out of their home in Riverdale, N.Y. "I'm just trying to keep going and make sure I have something happy to share with my daughters, so they don't see a sad mommy all the time."

Terilyn Patrick lost her husband Jim just two days after they celebrated their first wedding anniversary. Their child, Jack, was born on Halloween.

"It feels more real now that the baby's here," she said. "Plus, every time I look at him I think of Jim."

Baraheen Ashrafi gave birth to her son Farqad two days after the attacks killed her husband Mohammad Chowdhury. The Ashrafis had immigrated from Bangladesh, and Mohammad — who had a master's degree in physics — was working as a waiter at Windows on the World to gain a foothold for his family in the United States.

"Two days ago, I was in Manhattan," said Ashrafi, a Muslim who covers her head. "People were teasing me … But people don't realize, don't understand what I have inside. I am the victim also."

Gigi Nelson lost her husband Peter, a firefighter.

"I just know that he rescued so many people that were able to get out of the building," said Nelson, who went into labor three weeks early while she was at ther husband's memorial service.

Vycki Higley's husband Rob also perished while trying to help others escape the burning World Trade Center. His lifelong friends stepped in to witness the birth of his daughter, named Robyn.

"I know how much he was looking forward to having another child," said Higley. "And it gives me something to hold on to."

The women say they want to be strong for the sake of their children.

"One day they'll be strong. They will survive," said Ashrafi. "And they will do something good for the country."

These mothers — in a sisterhood they didn't choose — find support in one another.

"Now we all have each other," said one mother, speaking for the group. "And that's a good thing."